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Lectionary Notes - Ascension Sunday
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Readings for
Ascension,
5/28/06:
Acts 1:1-11, Psalm 47, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53
Acts 1:1-11:
- Luke's account to Theophilus, Part II. The ascension is
such an interesting part of what happens to Jesus, in that, for most, it is
something we care about least. Where does it fit in our Christian faith? Is
Jesus' ascension important?
- For me, the importance of the ascension is that we are
now left without Jesus physically present - that means we have to do it now -
we have to do the work that he has been teaching and teaching about. No
excuses, no right-there Jesus to do it for us. Just the Holy Spirit to be our
Advocate. Jesus' ascension means that Jesus really is asking us to get
to work.
- Ah, those men in white robes again. They're almost like
stage directions in a script - they let you know what's going on that is not,
apparently, obvious in any other way. I think if I ran across them they would
raise more questions for me than they would answer!
- Luke says that Jesus gives instructions, and shares
"many convincing proofs", and is with them for 40 days speaking about the
kingdom. It's little verses like these that drive me crazy. Where is all this
stuff Jesus said and did? Why didn't Luke record it? Why do we only get to
have such little snippets of somebody that we adore so much? Gr!!
Psalm 47:
- An audience-participation psalm: "Clap your hands!"
Lots of musical settings for these words, and no wonder - they make you want
to sing and clap!
- Of course, there in verse 3, is God with subdued people
under 'our' feet. Gives the whole psalm the tone of a war-victory psalm of
praise.
- "He chose our heritage for us." I like this verse. God
chooses our heritage for us - God chooses our history, our people, our story.
I'm all for free will, but I manage to balance that, tricky though it
sometimes feels, with a clear sense that God has a hand in or at least an eye
on all that goes on in my life. Even better to think of it woven into the
tapestry of as weighty a word as "heritage."
Ephesians 1:15-23:
- I especially like the first part of this passage,
verses 15-19. These verses sound like great words of blessing to speak on
someone, a person of faith. To pray that God grants wisdom and revelation,
enlightenment, riches of Christ's inheritance, knowledge of the immeasurable
greatness of God's power. . .
- Aside from that, this passage seems very typical of a
lot of the epistle writing. Here is set up the metaphor: Christ as the head of
the church and of the body, the church as the body of Christ, and thus under
Christ, who is over all things, filling all things.
Luke 24:44-53:
- Luke's part 1 account of the
ascension. Compare and contrast to his testimony in Acts. I think here, the
account is more backward reflective - calling up Moses, the fulfillments of
the Old Testament prophecies, talking about what has happened up to this
point, whereas Acts is setting the stage for what has yet to happen.
- "And they were continually in
the temple blessing God." Indeed - I think we just can't imagine what these
first weeks and months for the disciples must have been life. The emotional
roller-coaster they must have been on. But to finally just be driven to give
thanks - their friend and teacher was still going to be in charge of their
lives.
- Looking back on Luke, moving
ahead into Acts. We must take what Jesus has lived, and then live it
ourselves. I guess that would be my 'theme' for the day.
Pastor’s Note: (I use the Greek-English
Lexicon from Liddell and Scott, the “little Liddell”
and the Metzger et. al Greek New Testament in my translation work.)
Lectionary
Notes are from Rev. Beth Quick.
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